A boating incident on Center Hill Lake claimed the life of a Brentwood woman yesterday evening. The DeKalb County Fire Department confirmed that crews responded to the scene near Hurricane Marina, where a ski boat was found approximately 300 yards away from the marina in proximity to the main channel. According to WKRN News, first responders discovered an adult male attempting to rescue an unconscious female trapped by the boat's inboard engine propeller.
The emergency teams succeeded in freeing the woman, later identified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as 57-year-old Marybeth Floran. However, she was pronounced dead at the scene due to traumatic injury. As detailed in a report from WSMV, this marks the 13th boating-related death in Tennessee for the year 2025. Both Floran and the operator of the boat hailed from Brentwood, Tennessee, the reports indicated.
The investigation into the incident is currently being carried out by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Rescuers at the scene included the Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb County EMS, Putnam County Rescue Squad's Dive Team, and the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, with additional support from Hurricane Marina staff who supplied pontoons and aid in managing boat traffic.
As the tragedy unfolds, the DeKalb County Fire Department expressed their condolences to the victim's family. "Please keep the family of the victim in your thoughts and prayers," they said in a statement obtained by WJLE. Meanwhile, local authorities continue to stress safety measures for boating enthusiasts and, particularly, the importance of exercising caution near boat engines and propellers.
